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Wyndham firefighters in September will dress in full uniform to climb the stairs leading to the 28th floor at Crown Metropol, but there won’t be a fire waiting for them on the other side.
Instead, crews and individuals across the state will be participating in the Melbourne Firefighter Stair climb, to fundraise for charities fighting depression, PTSI and suicide.
Point Cook CFA firefighter Glenn Bowden said he has participated in all eight of the annual stair climbs and the event has grown “bigger and bigger” over the years.
“The first year was the biggest shock, I think I finished dead last at about 12 minutes…it’s about 25 kilos of kit running up all the stairs there,” he said.
“Now I’m about five minutes…it’s always going to be a challenge, but it’s rewarding.”
Mr Bowden said this year’s team might be the biggest the brigade has fielded.
“It’s about 11 members, the first year it was just two of us. Obviously we’ve recruited a few people and suckered them in to climb the stairs over the years,” he said.
Community members wanting to support the brigade can donate to the cause.
“[The] brigade is a very community oriented service…it can be something like showing people the truck, the stair climb, it doesn’t necessarily have to be firefighting,” Mr Bowden said.
“It’s a charity, but we do it for a bit fun and a bit of a challenge.”
Details: www.firefighterclimb.org.au/station/cfa/point-cook/
Fatima Halloum
